Zara's laughter echoed eerily as shimmering duplicates of her team materialized, surrounding the wolf-like Metis with insect wings. The abomination snarled in frustration, its claws slicing through empty air as it lunged at illusions.
"Keep it confused," Hiro said, his eyes glowing with telekinetic focus. With a sharp gesture, he lifted a chunk of rubble and sent it hurtling into the Metis' side.
Elena followed up, her shadowy tendrils wrapping around the creature, obscuring its vision and pinning its wings. "It's blind now—Marcus!" she called.
Flames roared to life in Marcus' hands as he unleashed a torrent of fire. The blue flames seared through the Metis' tough exterior, leaving cracks in its natural armor. Zara's illusions circled closer, keeping it distracted as Marcus stepped forward, intensifying the heat.
Finn's bowstring hummed as he took aim, his enhanced sight picking out a weak spot in the Metis' neck. The explosive-tipped arrow flew true, embedding itself before detonating in a fiery burst that left the creature lifeless.
"Another good team," Myria nodded, observing their performance as she made a note of their capabilities. Their role wasn't only to guide the team but also to identify and perfect eminent talents for the ongoing war effort.
Hearing Myria, Renard looked at the team she was observing and nodded. "They really are good," he said as he watched them.
Kai grinned as he dodged a swipe from a hulking Metis that resembled a beetle. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted, before planting his feet and delivering a thunderous punch to its midsection. The force sent the creature skidding back, crashing into a tree.
Lena darted in next, her twin blades flashing as she sliced through the gaps in its armor. Her movements were a blur, the Metis unable to track her as she left shallow but numerous wounds in her wake.
Tasha, standing at a distance, gestured with both hands. The metallic shards hovering around her shot forward, piercing the Metis from multiple angles. The creature screeched in pain, its acidic spray deflected mid-air by Tasha's magnetic barrier.
Eli smirked as he froze the acidic spray, creating a wall of ice between the Metis and his teammates. With a flick of his hand, he summoned a barrage of icicles that rained down on the creature.
Finally, Vera stomped the ground, the seismic wave rippling outward and destabilizing the Metis. It staggered, leaving it vulnerable for Kai to charge forward and deliver the finishing blow, smashing its head with a forceful strike.
"These idiots," Renard muttered, shifting his eyes from one team to another. Not all teams were performing well; among the exceptional ones were a few struggling groups who needed to be saved from time to time. This chapter is updated by Novel~Fire. (n)et
Renard's gaze lingered on one team in particular, struggling against their Metis opponent. They were disorganized, with mismatched tactics and hesitation in their movements. One member, a young man with a sword, seemed to be struggling to control his swings, leaving openings for the Metis to exploit. Another, a woman with fire abilities, was too focused on blasting her way through, neglecting her teammates' safety.
Renard's brow furrowed. "They'll need guidance, or they'll fail," he said under his breath, watching as the squad was forced to regroup.
Myria, standing next to him, didn't need to say much. Her sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, already formulating a plan. "We'll give them a few more minutes. If they can't pull it together, we'll step in."
Renard nodded. "But it shouldn't get to that point. They're supposed to be trained soldiers, not rookies. I don't have time to babysit them." His words were harsh, but he knew that every second counted in these battles.
The squad faltered once again as the Metis monster lunged toward their weakest link. Renard didn't wait any longer. He raised his hand, signaling to the squad leaders at the top of the outpost.
Moments later, a signal rang out. Myria, with her Blue Blood abilities, was already on her way, soaring toward the field to intervene. Renard sighed. "Hopefully, a little intervention will remind them of what they're capable of."
As Myria swooped in, the squad members immediately realized they had help. She landed between them and the Metis, her presence alone intimidating enough to draw the creature's attention. With a fierce wave of her hand, a blast of hellish blue flames erupted, cutting through the Metis' defenses and forcing it back.
The squad quickly adjusted, now following her lead. Their movements became more fluid, more coordinated, as they adapted to the new threat in front of them.
Renard watched from above, arms crossed. "That should be enough to get them back on track. They just need a little guidance from the top."
Myria returned to his side, wiping the sweat from her brow. "They'll be fine now. Sometimes, that push is all they need."
Renard gave a sharp nod. "Good. But next time, they better step up on their own."
"Relax, if we had all people like Asher and Herman, the war would have ended long ago," Myria said, as Renard relaxed and nodded.
"Yeah, you're right," he replied.
As the Metis opponent fell to the ground, defeated by Myria's intervention and the squad's newfound coordination, Renard finally allowed himself a small smile. He turned to Myria. "I can't say I'm impressed by their initial performance, but they'll get there eventually."
Myria, her arms still crackling with the faint remnants of blue flames, nodded. "It's all about learning how to lead in the heat of battle. Some of them are raw, but they have potential. They just need the right guidance."
Renard's gaze shifted back to the other squads. He observed their ongoing battles with intense focus. "If they want to survive the real wars, they can't rely on intervention every time. They need to learn quickly, adapt, and grow stronger."
Myria's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the battlefield. "That's true. But in times , a little nudge can save lives. We've all been there."